International Boxing Association under IOC investigation as Tokyo 2020 plans frozen

International Boxing Association under IOC investigation as Tokyo 2020 plans frozen

Olympic chiefs have begun an investigation into the “governance, ethics and financial management” of the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned AIBA could lose its status as amateur boxing’s governing body.

The IOC has also “frozen the planning” for boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But it says it will make “all efforts” to ensure boxing features at the Games “regardless of these measures”.

One of the IOC’s key concerns surrounds Gafur Rakhimov, who was elected as AIBA president this month.

The controversial Uzbek businessman is described by the US Treasury Department as a “key member and associate of a transnational organised criminal network”.

The IOC says that creates uncertainty about his role.

Regarding the organisation’s finances, auditors have told the IOC “uncertainty still persists about the ability to continue as a going concern”.

The IOC has acknowledged progress by AIBA in improving refereeing standards and becoming fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency.